Thursday, July 05, 2007

A Visit with The Secretary

Today, while visiting the Ohel of Lubavitch, the holy resting places of the great and holy tzaddikim, the tzadik hador and nasi hador, 6th and 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe's in the United States, we sat and prepared our p'an'im (pidyon nefesh), my wife turned to me and said, "Isn't that Rabbi Groner?" I paused and looked, unsure. Rabbi Groner was the Rebbe's secretary, the one you often see in videos of the Rebbe, standing to his right passing over items the Rebbe is handing out. Not a big man, but having a big face rounding fluffy beard.

Last time I had seen that beard, it was black with touches of grey. Today it's completely white, a crown on the face of a chossid. I went over and sat at the table, as Rabbi Groner was speaking about the Rebbe. Now who can better speak about the Rebbe than his secretary??? Literally hundreds of thousands of requests for blessings passed through his hands, as well as replies! Ahh, but the Rebbe chose his secretaries carefully, the privacy of all of those in need who passed through his hands, the miracles rolling about on a daily basis, they do not pass his lips.

Rather, he was telling stories the Rebbe himself told, for sharing what the Rebbe chose to share is not only permitted, it's a mitzvah! As he spoke of the Rebbe, his face literally lit up and glowed. A brief reflection of the awesome light of the Rebbe could be felt, if just for a fleeting moment.

Not wanting to disturb the moment, I discreetly captured the picture above and 3 very brief video clips with my cellphone. Unfortunately, cell phone picture and video quality is very poor. Yet, I share what I have.

Video: Rabbi Laibel Groner, a secretary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, speaking of a story told by the Rebbe. Here are three 15 second cell phone video clips... Clip 1 - Clip 2 - Clip 3

For Gimmel Tammuz, the hilula of the Rebbe, most chassidim do everything they can to travel to the ohel, the holy resting place. Yet, Rabbi Groner explained that he did the opposite, he traveled away to California, to spend the day in a Chabad house, sharing (what is permitted to be shared) about the Rebbe. May Hashem bless him with many long and healthy years to be able to continue to share.